National Archives of Australia
Series A452 Item 1952/420
Canberra Office
Transfer of Quadroon and Octoroon Children to Institutions in Southern States
Copyright P J Mackett 2005
12th September 1934
His Honour
The Acting Administrator of the
Northern Territory
Darwin
I am forwarding herewith schedules of
Quadroon and Octoroon children at present detained in
the Half-Caste Institutions of the Northern territory.
The removal of these children from the
Northern Territory to Southern Institutions is opposed
on the following grounds :-
1. If they are to be permanently removed the
adoption of such a policy would introduce a
further factor of depopulation into the settle-
ment problems of the Territory, further reducing
the white or near white population and exaggerating
the percentage of colour. If on the other hand they
are to be removed only during the years of school-
ing they will not on their return to the Territory
be such effective units in the population of the
Territory as they would be if they were reared
here.
2. Spasmodic efforts in this direction in the past
have not been attended with the success anticipated.
Where children have been removed to be placed in
the care of private individuals success or failure
in their upbringing has determined their retention
in the South or their return to the Territory.
There has been, therefore, a process of natural
selection which removes the desirable citizen from
the local population and augments the proportion of
undesirables. An early indication of the developing
financial depression in Australia was the return to
the Territory of Half-Castes and Quadroons removed
to Southern States years ago. These individuals,
having failed to find a place as citizens in the
Southern States, were returned to the Territory
completely unfitted for employment here to swell
the ranks of the unemployed and to become a charge
upon the Administration. The policy, therefore, so
far from relieving the half-caste problem, aggravates
it.
3. Only in isolated instances can private persons be
trusted to fulfil their responsibilites with full
advantages to their wards. The Commonwealth has no
machinery for enquiring inti the suitability or
otherwise of prospective employers in the Southern
States or into the conditions under which State
children are maintained. The use of State organi-
zation in this direction is not favoured as experience
indicates that the officers are not sufficiently con-
versant with the policy of this Department and the
outlook of children of aboriginal inheritance.
4. Removal to Southern Institutions even where care is
taken to select only those suitable for the purpose
is but a temporary expedient inasmuch as provision
must be made for the childre after discharge when
the objections already enumerated must be faced
afresh.
5. In my opinion the proper solution to this problem
is to place these children in suitable institutions
in the Territory. The Convent of Our Lady of the
Sacred Heart, Darwin, is an institution probably
more suitable for this purpose in respect of females
than any institution which could be found in the
South. The cost to the Administration in respect of
maintenance would probably be no greater than would
be involved in the payment of fees to Southern Insti-
tutions and the Administration would be saved the
expense of transport. There is at the moment no
institution providing for the care of males but steps
are being taken by the Roman Catholic community to
establish one. I have no hesitation in saying that
the solution to the problem involved in the care of
Half-Castes, Quadroons and Octoroons is to be found
in removing the elder Half-Castes to employment in
the Southern States and maintaining the Quadroon
and Octoroon children in institutions in the Terri-
tory. No doubt the adoption by the Administration
of the policy I suggest, would materially assist in
and expedite the provision of a suitable institution
for males.
Appended to the schedules of children referred
to is a copy of a memorandum to me from the Superintendent
of the Compound which I also forward for your consideration.
C E Cook
Chief Protector of Aboriginals
Quadroons, Darwin
Name Rita Darby
Age 1 11/12 year
Class
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother Dolly Darby (13 or 18 years). Father believed
to be a European-Swede present whereabouts unknown.
Remarks Institution since birth. Has blue eyes, quite light
in colour.
Name Margaret Gorry
Age 5 years
Class
Medical History Clear (Malnutrition in infancy)
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Dolly Brown H/C 21 years. Father believed to be a white
man British nationality, present whereabouts unknown.
Remarks Institution since birth. Very light in colour, fair hair,
definitely European features.
Name Eunice Morris
Age 4 years
Class
Medical History Clear, undersized
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother, Marjorie Morris H/C 26 years. Father European-
Maltese, has evinced no interest in child or mother for
some three years.
Remarks Child has European features, lightcoloured, Mother is
a light skinned H/C. Should say this child despite coloured
strain in father could be classified quadroon for the purpose
of this submission.
Name Henry Baker
Age
Class
Medical History Early infancy serious. Illness Camooweal Hospital. Clean sheet
Darwin other than common ailments.
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother Phyllis Alexandria H/C 18 (13?) years. Father supposed
white European - had made no overtures re maintaining child.
Remarks Distinct European features - not so light coloured.
Name Harold Quartermain
Age 5 years
Class
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Phyllis Alexandria H/C age 18 (13?) years. Father supposed to
be a white British subject occupation Engineer - now left the
Territory. Has evinced no interest in child as far as dept.
is aware.
Remarks A good looking child, nicely spoken, features distinctly
European, very light coloured.
Name Paddy Liddy
Age 10 years
Class Grade 2
Medical History Clear (crosseyed)
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother Daisy Liddy H/C 38 years. Father Tom Liddy, white British
subject. Father made tentative proposals to maintain. Nothing
definite at this date.
Remarks Not so white. All very light coloured distinct European features.
Name Harry Liddy
Age 7 years
Class Primer 1
Medical History Clear. Pneumonia 1934 2/52.
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother Daisy Liddy H/C 38 years. Father Tom Liddy, white British
subject. Father made tentative proposals to maintain. Nothing
definite at this date.
Remarks All very light coloured distinct European features.
Name John Liddy
Age 4 years
Class
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother Daisy Liddy H/C 38 years. Father Tom Liddy, white British
subject. Father made tentative proposals to maintain. Nothing
definite at this date.
Remarks All very light coloured distinct European features.
Name Evelyn Liddy
Age 1 year
Class
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother Daisy Liddy H/C 38 years. Father believed to be a white
British subject, whereabouts at present unknown.
Remarks All very light coloured distinct European features.
Octoroons, Alice Springs
Name Allen Laughton
Age 7 1/2 years
Class Grade 1
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother O/C. Father unknown. Mother subsequently married H/C.
Remarks Mother has taken him out of Institution sevgeral times but he
has been returned as they were unable to properly care for him.
Name Herbert Laughton
Age 6 years
Class Infants
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother O/C. Father unknown. Mother subsequently married H/C.
Remarks In Institution continuously last 4 years. Mother of the two
Laughton boys has signified her consent to their being adopted.
Name Frank Ludgate
Age 6 years
Class Infants
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother O/C now left Territory. Father unknown. Adopted by
H/C Ludgate.
Remarks In Institution 2 years, no maintenance paid. As his mother's
whereabouts are unknown, he can be considered as absolutely
unattached.
Quadroons, Alice Springs
Name John Palmer
Age 2 years
Class
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother said to be a three-quarter caste girl now at Institution
and father unknown white man.
Remarks This boy is whiter in appearance than any other child in
Institution, bright and intelligent. No difficulty about consent.
Name Clem Smythe
Age 13 years
Class Grade IV (Lower)
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother H/C residing Alice Springs. Father unknown.
Remarks Is colour of an Octoroon. Never been outside Institution
Probably no difficulty regarding consent.
Name Stuart Kunoth
Age 11 years
Class Grade II
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother H/C. Father unknown.
Remarks Octoroon in colour. Never been outside Institution. Nothing
has been paid for maintenance.
Name Lindsay Smythe
Age 7 years
Class Grade II
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Full brother to Clem.
Remarks Very light coloured. Never been outside Institution.
Never maintained.
Name Alec Lowe
Age 11 years
Class Grade II
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Not known
Remarks Fairly light in colour. No interest evinced by parents.
Name Max Strange
Age 10 years
Class Grade II
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satsifactory
Parentage Mother H/C
Remarks In Institution since infancy. Nothing paid towards
maintenance. Light coloured for Quadroon.
Name Kathleen Kieran
Age 10 years
Class Grade I
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satsifactory
Parentage Mother H/C residing Alice Springs. Married white man
but now living alone.
Remarks Very light coloured. Mother looked after her about
1 year but not likely to be able to do so again.
Name Mavis Webb
Age 8 years
Class Grade I
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satisfactory. Ocurring tonsillitis. Tonsillectomy
to be done.
Parentage Mother H/C in Institution
Remarks Very light coloured. Always been in Institution
Name Donald Turner
Age 7 years
Class Grade I
Medical History Clear. Tonsils need operation
Conduct Satisfactory
Parentage Mother H/C on staff Institution. Has several other
children inmates.
Remarks Light coloured. In Institution 5 years.
Name Alec Turner
Age 11 years
Class Grade III
Medical History Clear
Conduct Satsifactory
Parentage Mother H/C on staff Institution. Has several other
children inmates.
Remarks Quadroon in colour. In Institution 5 years.
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